Whether you have fallen behind on your bills or are looking to make budgeting a little bit easier, our team is here to offer support.
We work closely with social agencies in the Durham Region to offer assistance to customers experiencing financial hardship and help ease the burden of your monthly utility costs. Disconnection of service is always our last resort and we remain committed to working with our customers to keep their service on.
If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties managing monthly electricity bills, please consider the following assistance programs.
Disconnection is always our last resort. As final step before disconnection you may be eligible for enrolment in our Arrears Management Program to help manage your outstanding balance and keep your service connected.
Our Arrears Management Program (AMP) allows customers in arrears to avoid disconnection and pay down their outstanding balance over a set period of time.
When you contact our team about setting up a payment plan under AMP:
After applying your security deposit and down payment to the total amount owing, we will calculate your total outstanding balance. This amount will be your new outstanding balance, to be paid off over the length of your new payment arrangement.
The timeline for repayment of your outstanding balance will depend on two factors: the total amount owing compared to your monthly average bill amount and if you qualify for Low-Income Status:
| Amount Owing | Timeline | Timeline (Low-Income Status) |
|---|---|---|
| < Twice Your Average Monthly Bill | 5 Months | 8 Months |
| > Twice Your Average Monthly Bill | 10 Months | 12 Months |
| > Five Times Your Average Monthly Bill | N/A | 16 Months |
Once you enter a payment arrangement agreement, you must continue to pay your regular electricity bills. If more than one payment is missed on either your payment arrangement plan or regular billing, Oshawa Power reserves the right to cancel the agreement and begin the disconnection process.
If your Oshawa Power account is currently in arrears, you will qualify for AMP unless:
We work closely with social assistance agencies to provide Payment Assistance programs to customers struggling to manage their electricity bills. Whether it is a monthly bill credit or emergency support to eliminate arrears, these programs are designed to help customers stay connected.
The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) is designed to assist low- and fixed-income households by offering a monthly on-bill credit between $35 and $75 to help make energy bills more affordable.
OESP bill credit amounts are determined based on family size, household income, and energy intensity of your home. Eligible non-seniors will receive a credit for two years before they need to re-apply. For eligible seniors, the re-application process will take place every five years.
If you move residences while receiving OESP, you must re-apply using your new address.
To apply for the OESP program click here or call 1(855) 831-8151.
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has made temporary changes to the Low-Income Electricity Assistance Program (LEAP):
LEAP provides customers in arrears with a one-time payment to Oshawa Power to help pay down your outstanding account balance and avoid disconnection.
Eligible customers are limited to one payment every 12 months administered on a first-come, first-serve basis until yearly funds are depleted. It is important to note that LEAP payments will not be made if the funding amount would be insufficient to help the customer avoid arrears as this is not considered a productive use of funding.
Eligibility criteria are based on family size, household income, and home heating type. If you are approved for LEAP, funding will be paid directly to Oshawa Power to help pay down arrears on the associated account.
To learn more about eligibility or apply for LEAP funding, please contact the Community Development Council of Durham (CDCD) at 1 (888) 746-3696 or (905) 686-2661.
Oshawa Power’s Compassion Fund has been established to assist Residential electricity customers who are unable to pay their electricity bill. If you have not used any of the existing financial assistance programs offered, you may be eligible for funding through the Oshawa Power Compassion Fund.
Oshawa Power’s Compassion Fund is not funded by ratepayers and is available to all Oshawa Power Residential customers. The funds are limited and applications will be processed in the order they are received. This program is only available if your account balance is past due. Funding will not exceed $150 per household and will not exceed the arrears amount.
To apply for the Oshawa Power Compassion Fund, click here.
The Energy Affordability Program (EAP) is a proactive program that is geared towards lowering your consumption in order to save on your bills. The program offers free energy assessments and upgrades to your home to improve efficiency and lower electricity costs.
Upgrades may include:
If you have received assistance through LEAP or OESP or other government assistance programs in the past 12 months, or are a qualifying low-income customer, you may be eligible for further support.
To get started, call 1 (844) 770-3148 or click here.
In addition to helping with rental arrears, the Housing Stability Program also offers financial assistance to qualified low-income individuals experiencing energy related emergencies.
This program helps those who are usually able to afford their energy costs but due to an unexpected financial burden or unanticipated cost increase have fallen into arrears and are unable to pay their gas or electricity bills. Applicants may be eligible to access up to two months’ worth of gas or electricity costs.
To learn more or apply, please contact the Community Development Council of Durham (CDCD) at 1 (888) 746-3696 or (905) 686-2661.
The Rainy Day Fund at Shine Through the Rain Foundation may be able to assist with overdue utility bills if you are diagnosed with life-threatening illness.
Click here to learn more.
Are you looking to simplify your monthly budgeting? We offer a convenient Budget Billing plan that divides your annual energy costs into 12 equal monthly payments based on your home’s previous electricity consumption. Twice per year the difference between your actual and estimated usage will be reconciled on your bill to factor in seasonal changes.
To set up a Budget Billing plan, call our office or contact our team.
Contact UsThe Ontario Energy Board developed a list of rules, including for payment plans and disconnection, to ensure all consumers across the province are treated fairly. Review customer service rules for electricity from the Ontario Energy Board to understand repayment options and arrangements, special rules for low-income customers, and more.
To learn more about your rights and protections as a customer in Ontario, visit the OEB’s website.
